Trailer hitch



Jan. 4', 1949. L E GATCH 2,457,885

TRAILER HITGH l Filed Dec. 5, 1946 gl-4 `^^1`m I 2 O O O O O O i 7 5 lo/8 9 4) C I 'l 3 T |s- 23 a 12-rp lo alge Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITEDSTATES f PATENT OFFICE lTRAILER m'ron James Earle catch, Macon, Ga.

Application December 5, 1946, Serial No. 714,317 4 claims. Y (c1.28o-33.15)

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter which can be detached or uncoupled with a minimum of effortand with-v out tools. i

A further object is to provide a rhitch of the type indicated havingfreedom of movement in all directions so that there can be no binding orundue strain imposed upon either the hitch or the bumper of the vehicleto whichit is attached. A further object of the invention is to providea trailer hitch in which the locking device by means of which it isengaged or` disengaged is subjected to no strain when the device is inoperation, and inwhich thelatching device is so constructed as to renderthe accidental disengagement of the device practically impossible. l

Further objects will more kparticularly appear in the courseof thefollowing detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construe-.i

tion, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter moreparticularly described and claimed.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof inwhich like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawings: U f

Figure 1 is a side elevation o f vtheimproved device in operativerelationship to a car bumper and the bodyof a trailer, only fragments ofthe car and bumper being shown;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross'section taken line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a medial vertical longitudinal cross section through thedevice showing the draw-bar in elevation, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one latch member removed from thedevice.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated a draw-bar I isprovided one end of which is adapted to be received in the bore of atubular bracket 2 attached to the bottom of the trailer body T. Thistubular bracket is provided with transverse locking bolts 3 by means ofwhich the draw-bar is rigidly associated with the bracket and thetrailer body.

The draw-bar I is formed with a medial enlarged abutment portion 4 andthe opposite end of the draw-bar is threaded to receive a. nut.

. 2 i The threaded end of the draw-bar l is slidably positioned withinthe bore of a tubular member 5 which is preferably provided withbushings II--II and an oil nipple l0, and a compression spring 9 ispositioned on and surrounds the draw-bar I between the medial abutment 4and the tubular body 5. Preferably, a washer 8 will be interposedbetween the compression spring 9 and the tubular body 5 and afterassembling the nut 1, is applied to the threaded end of the drawbar,thus securing that end of the draw-bar slidably within the tubularmember 5. By this construction it will be apparent that the direct draftof the trailer will be taken by the nut l against the forward end of thetubular body 5 While any shocks produced by over-riding of the traileragainst the car propelling it will be absorbed by the shock spring 9.

The tubular body 5 is formed with downwardly projecting spaced parallellugs 6-6 which are arranged to straddle a tubular collar I2 and to` bepivotally associated with said collar by means of pivot bolts lli-I6which pass through suitable orices `in the lugs 6 6 4and are threadedinto the side walls of the collar I2. These pivot bolts I6 are secured`in their properly adjusted position by bolts I3 which extend throughsuitable orifices extending lengthwise of the collar I2 `and throughtransverse holes in the pivot bolt I6, as well illustrated in Figure 2.

Preferably the orices in the lugs 6-6 are sufficiently largetoaccommodate bushings to prevent undue Wear on the pivotbolts.

A king bolt 29 is provided having a medial annular enlargement 3lpreferably formed with a polygonal perimeter to serve as a tool grip andthe lower end of this king bolt is threaded as at 30 to receive asecuring nut 32 by means of which the king bolt can be rigidlyassociated in a vertical position through a suitable orifice in abracket member 28 which, as herein illustrated, is of right angle formand secured to the bumper B of the propelling car as by a bolt or bolts21. The king bolt 29 is further formed near its upper end with anannular groove 34 and its upper free end is tapered as at 33 for ease inassembling the parts.

On the upper face of collar I2 are positioned two parallel spaced latchmembers 20-20 which are pivotally associated with the collar as byscrews 2 I and each of these latch members 20 is provided with anarcuate notch 22 adapted to seat in the annular groove 34 in the kingbolt 29 when the device is in assembled relationship. On the free endsof each of the latch members 20-20 are upstanding posts 24-24 which areconnected ing the connecting device to the king bolt the beveled end 33of the king bolt Will eiectivelytf' operate to spread the latch membersto bringlinenv same in locking engagement with the annular groove 34without any undue pressure onff'saidf latch members and without,` anynecessityflor manually manipulating the same.

When assembled in operative relationship-to all grips 23 whichdisengages said latch membersfrom the king pin and permits the raisingof the draw-bar, tubular member 5, and collar l2; The trailer can bereattached to the car simply by replacing the collar i2 over the kingbolt-andpresse ing same downward, the tapered end of the kingV boltautomatically spreading the latch members to permit the top of the kingbolt to-pass between said latch members until they engage thel an.

nulary groove 34, thus effectively locking ther de'- vice in operativeposition.

Various modications in the precisesize,` shape and construction of theconstituent, parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled inthe; art, but within the scope of the present invention4 as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim: ,Y

1. Hitch for trailer comprising a draw-bar adapted to be associated withthe trailer, a col# lar slidable on the draw-bar, compression means onthe draw-bar restraining movement of the collar toward the trailer,means on the draw-bar to prevent withdrawalof the draw-bar from th'ecollar and to carry the forward thrust of the collar in pulling thetrailer, a king bolt verticallymounted on a car bumper, a second collarremovably and rotatably mounted on the king" bolt, and

means for pivotally connecting the two-collars on a horizontal axis ofrotation.

2` Device for connecting a car to a trailer comprising a king boltformed with an annular'groove,

means for mounting the king bolt in a' verticalV position on a carbumper, a collar adapted toi rotatably embrace the king bolt havingoppOsitel'y disposed latch members arranged to seat in the annulargroove of the king bolt when the collar is in operative position on saidbolt, a tubular housing formed with spaced, parallel off-set lugsadapted to embrace said collar and connected to said collar by alignedpivots, a draw-bar having a medially disposed abutment, one end portionof said,,draw-bar mslidably disposed in the tubular bruising?` andhaving me'ans to -preventfwithdrawal therefrom, a' compression" springpositioned on the :draw-bar intermediate the tubular housing and `theabutment on the draw-bar, and means for securing the other lend of thedraw-bar to the trailer.

3;*Devi`ce-'for connecting a car to a trailer complispgA rkngffboltormedwith a tapered upper end an an annular groove, means for mounting thekingvbolt in a vertical position on a car bumper, a collar adapted torotatably embrace the king bolt having; oppositely disposed springcontrolled latch members arranged to seat' in the* annular groove ofthe-kingy bolt when the; collar: is inoperative position on4 said bolt,a tubularf housing formed with spaced parallel, o-set lugs adapted toembrace said collar' and connectedlto saidE collar by dia-metricallyaligned pivots, adrawbarhaving amedially disposed'abutment, oneendportion of said draw-bar slidably disposedrin the tubular housing andhaving an endl nut to prevent withdrawalftherefrom', a1 compressionspring posi tionedjon thedraW-bar intermediate the tubular housing andthel abutment on the draw-bar, and means forv securing theother end ofthedrawbar to the trailer.

4. Hitch forftrailers comprising, a draw bar ormedwithfan abutment, andadapted to be associated byt one end Witha trailer, a verticallydisposed vking boltl rigidly associated with the bumper of. a car, aIcollar' rotatably and removably embracing theV king pin, asecond collarslidable. on thedraw bar, a compression spring disposed on the draw barbetween the abutment and the said' secondcollar, means` to prevent withydrawal of the; draw bar from the collar and means pivotallylconnectingthe-.two collarson ahorizontal axis.

f r JAMES EARLE GATCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ill'eofthispate'nt:y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Naine` f 1,325,162 1 McGri'iT' Dec.16, 1919 1,543,304 Tomlinson June 23, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Numberv`Country Date .421,730 Great Britain Dec'. 31, 1934

